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Charles Bronson


Birth name: Charles Dennis Buchinsky
Birth: 3 November 1921
Died: 30 August 2003
Nationality: American
Hollywood Walk Star: Yes
Charles Bronson

Career / Biography

Charles bronson was a rugged American actor and was married to Jill Ireland with whom he featured is various films in the 1970's. He also appeared in various westerns in the 1960's and known for his tough guy roles. He seemed to use the same facial expression through all his 92 films. He was born to a poor immigrant family and he started life working in the mines and was an aerial gunner during World War 2 and awarded a Purple Heart. He started acting on the stage in New York and after marrying his first wife moved to Hollywood to work in films. He started getting roles as the typical heavy man. His first significant role was in House Of Wax where he is a dumb mute. During the 1950's he appeared in a variety of television series, mainly westerns and some detective roles. His first leading role was in director Roger Corman's Machine Gun Kelly. It was in director John Sturges film The Magnificent Seven that moved him up to the star category. In 1962 he appeared in Kid Galaghad opposite Elvis Presley. The following year he team up again with John Sturges for the classic war film The Great Escape. He married his second wife, Jill Ireland in 1968, until her death in 1990. The Dirty Dozen was another successful ensemble films. Although a popular actor, he was not getting top billing so he moved to Europe where he was also popular and stared in Sergio Leone's film Once Upon A Time In The West. It was a film where he said very little but his face and acting did all he needed. The French film Rider On The Rain was a hit in France and also featured Jill Ireland. In the 1970's he made several films with director Michael Winner. This includes the Mechanic where he plays a hit man, but has a long start with no dialogue and also the very violent and dark Death Wish. The Death Wish films were controversial for the vigilante role but also successful. The depression era film Hard time was another box office success. At one point he was the 4th most popular star. Through the 1980's he continued to play violent roles in a number of films.

Films

From Noon Till Three (1976)
Breakheart Pass (1975)
Hard Times (1975)
Death Wish (1974)
Chato's Land (1972)
The Mechanic (1972)
Rider On The Rain (1970)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Dirty Dozen (1967)
Great Escape (1963)
Kid Galahad (1962)
A Thunder Of Drums (1961)
Master Of The World (1961)
Magnificent Seven (1960)
Never So Few (1959)
Machine Gun Kelly (!958)
House Of Wax (1953)

Oscars

None
Charles Bronson